After benching second-year quarterback Sam Howell in their last two games, it appears the Washington Commanders believe he is not the solution.
The Commanders (4-11) might see a quarterback change if general manager Martin Mayhew and head coach Ron Rivera are fired at the end of the season, according to ESPN NFL expert Dan Graziano.
Howell, who was selected 144th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, has completed 63.2% of his passes in 15 games for 3,624 yards and 19 touchdowns. He leads the league in interceptions (17), although he is prone to turnovers.
Per Tanakathon, Washington will have the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft and select North Carolina QB Drake Maye. ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller compared the 21-year-old to Los Angeles Chargers star Justin Herbert — the 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year and a former Pro Bowler.
Washington’s best move is drafting another QB, such as Maye, and keeping Howell as an above-average backup. The Commanders must find a legitimate face of the franchise to become respectable again. They’ve only made two postseason appearances over the past decade.
